Sixteen youngsters were caught with the emerging drug “space oil” on school grounds last year, Hong Kong’s narcotics commissioner has revealed, vowing to strengthen education efforts targeting students under the city’s crackdown.
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Commissioner for Narcotics Kesson Lee of the Security Bureau said his division would organise the Anti-Space Oil Drug Week with education authorities to drive home the message to students.
He also cited official figures showing youngsters aged 12 to 17 accounted for just over half of all of the drug’s users listed in a government registry last year.
Lee said the 16 cases uncovered on school grounds were a sign authorities needed to remain vigilant, as the incidents showed teenagers could conceal space oil cartridges among vape pen paraphernalia.
“A common reason for taking space oil is due to peer pressure,” he said.
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“If we can foster an atmosphere in schools where students can remind each other that space oil is something to steer clear of, they will know not to take it if they encounter the drug.”